FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF ORGANIC FOOD FROM FAMILY AGRICULTURE FOR THE NATIONAL PROGRAM OF SCHOOL MEALS IN TOLEDO, BRAZIL

Abstract

Current paper analyzes whether financial viability exists on a farm in Toledo PR Brazil, with regard to the organic production of tomato, carrot and lettuce for meals in government-run schools in the state of Paraná, Brazil, as a sustainability factor in family agriculture. An open interview was conducted to calculate costs of production of organic products by the investment analysis model for the production of ecologically correct products. Results show that there is economic viability for the products analyzed although the commercialization of tomato within the national program for school meals is not feasible due to present demand and to prices being higher on the traditional market for organic tomato than those paid by the government. In the case of carrots and lettuces, they do not have sufficient demand on the market and the government-run program is viable due to selling guarantee.